Heated Bat Box[HBR]

£349.00

This heated bat box was developed as a response to repeated requests by ecologists, consultants and developers for a heated bat box that they could use in mitigation schemes when a development caused the loss of a maternity roost. The current guidance from Scottish Natural Heritage states that “the most effective form of mitigation for the loss of maternity roosts of pipistrelle species is the heated bat house.” It’s equally well suited if you simply want to provide a heated bat roost and potentially encourage a maternity colony to use the box.

Our Heated Bat Boxes are large 3 crevice boxes suitable for larger roosts or maternity groups of pipistrelle bats. The batbox is the same design as our conventional ‘Maternity Roost Bat Box’ with the addition of the heater to provide an artificially warmed roost space.The internal waterproof heater enhances the temperatures inside the box with the temperature thermostatically controlled and set by the user. Operating costs of the heated bat box are modest. Even if the heater is left on 12 months of the year the cost of electricity is unlikely to exceed £20.

It is designed to be easy to install and operate, being genuinely ‘plug and play’, it simply plugs into a conventional socket with no wiring required. The Heated Bat Box comes as two parts. The bat box (to be fitted outside) complete with 10 metre long flexible cable, and the temperature control unit (to be fitted inside) complete with mains cord and 13A plug incorporating a residual current circuit breaker (RCD). The product has been developed so that it is ready to fit: no wiring needs to be undertaken by the user, and no electrician is required. You won't need any tools except those to fit the bat box on the wall, and secure the cable. The 3 step installation is the ultimate in simplicity:

Fit the bat box on the wall etc.

1. Run the 10 metre long flexible cable down the wall, into the house or building and plug it into the Temperature Controller.

2. Plug the Temperature Controller into a mains socket.

3. If the power is then switched on, and the RCD plug clicked in, the heating system will be working.

Safety (of both bats and humans) has been built into this product by design. All the electrical parts are fully enclosed and the external items double insulated, while in the unlikely case that there is a problem, there is a malfunction alarm and cut-off, and an integrated residual current circuit breaker to protect all users (bats and humans) from electrical shock. The bats are protected from getting too close to the heater by a small "fireguard". Audible alarms warn of overheating and disconnection.

The design of the bat box is the same as our unheated ‘maternity roost box’ and features:

10 metre (approx) flexible cable permanently fixed to bat box, to allow box to be fitted high on wall if needed

Microprocessor based temperature controller goes inside building, with power cord and mains plug

Sounds alarm and switches off if it detects a disconnection or too high a temperature

4 push buttons to operate on/off and temperature control settings

Control settings retained when disconnected from mains

Status display on temperature controller shows current temperature and whether heater is switched on
Incorporates a residual current circuit breaker to protect both people and bats
Electrical installation does not require an electrician - plugs into standard mains socket